Spa Guide 2015

Cowley Manor

Green and exceedingly pleasant is Cowley Manor, standing congenially in its glorious Cotswolds grounds. It has rolling lawns, lakes, woodlands, a walled swimming pool – the works. Inside, it’s a chintz-free zone, with flamboyant pinks and mauves and deep squishy sofas that encourage you to kick off your shoes and curl up. We love the C-Side Spa’s green-slate-lined indoor pool – lagoon-like, it makes swimming laps an otherworldly experience of cutting through inky, just-warm-enough water. Don’t expect hi-tech spa wizardry here, though. What you have is good, honest facial-and-massage stuff, administered by safe hands. But what is rather special is the spa’s own gorgeously collectable Green & Spring product range (made with herbs, flowers and spring water from the manor grounds and local countryside). There’s British gastro fare at its best and champagne by the pool, so a detox it ain’t. But curative? Undoubtedly.

LocationGloucestershire, England

Telephone01242 870900

Book it

Double, from £335, half board, including a 60-minute treatment per room.

Best for

Spa virgins

Heads up

Book a garden room – the less time spent in public in a too-big robe the better